Wilhelmine semler



(N0 Mndel.)

w. SBMLBB.. FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 570,776. Patented'Nov. 3, 1896.

UNITED STATESA PATENT OEEICE.

VILHELMINE SEMLER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

FOLDINGCHAIR.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,776, dated November` 3, 1896.

Application filed January 14, 1893. SerialNo. 458,426. (No model.)

useful Improvements in Folding Chairs, ofA

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding chairs for theaters and other public places, and has for its object the construction of such chairs, the seat of which may be turned upward to one side, while the back may be turned down. lVhen chairs of this kind are arranged in pairs, with their seats folding in opposite di rections, passage-ways may be formed of nearly double the width of the seats.

In the annexed drawings chairs of this kind are shown, Figure l representing a pair of such chairs in front elevation, the right seat being down, while the left one is turned up. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the saine. Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the chair with the seat turned down. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the chair with the seat turned up.

In all figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

lVhen the seat of the chair a is in its turned-down position ready for use, it is supported by the fixed leg h, which is attached to the floor, and by the movable leg c. Seat ct is connected with the iixed leg b by a hinge d and with the movable leg by a hinge e. Movable leg c is connected with the fixed leg b by means of hinges g h and of the connecting-piece f. Part f rests upon the floor with plates or feet f'. Back 'L' is hinged at lo in such manner that it may be turned down toward seat a and is slightly above hinge 7c provided withv an eyel, into which is hooked or otherwise fastened the end of a chain, the lower en d of which is at m attached to the lower part of fixed leg b. The chain is by preference formed of several rods or bars n p 7 t, connected by rings o qs. This chain is passed through eyes fu, o, at which places it is made to form an angle. One of said eyes, u, is fastened to movable leg c, while the other, o, is attached to the lower part wof the back, which is rigidly connected with seat a. The chain occupies the position m n o up q r s o tlwhen the seat is down, that is, when the chair is being used; but when the seat is turned up it takes the position m n 0 u p q r s o t l. When the seat is turned up, the back is turned down against the seat, and is held in this position by the tension of the chain produced by the angles it forms.

4In the plan View, Fig. 2, the linksof the chain as well as eye u 'in its topmost position (the seat being turned up) are not shown for the sake of clearness. Seat a has an oval opening x, through which are passed links s t of the chain. y z, Fig. 3, is a covering for eyes Z o and for chain-links s t upon the seat.

The mechanism operates as follows: When seat a is to be used, it rests, as has been before stated, upon iXed leg b and movable leg c. The back of the chair, by its own weight, operates upon the chain and gives it a certain degree of tension. cated, it will, begin to rise, under the influence of a suitable spring Fig. l, or a suitable counterweight a, Figs. l and 2, turning upon its hinge d. Back 'L' is almost simultaneously caused to swing downward toward seat a in consequence of the turning of point Z, at which the top end of the chain is attached, turning around hinge d, whereby the chain becomes slack. When, however, the seat is completely'turned up, the weight of the same and of back t', attached thereto, will again. draw tight the chain.

As a matter of course the details of the c onstruction may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

NVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In afolding chair, aixed leg, a seat hinged to the upper end of said leg to fold sidewise thereon, a link hinged to the lower end of said iixed leg, a movable leg hinged respectively to said link and seat, a projection secured to the seat, a back hinged to said projection, eyes attached to the projection and movable leg and a chain passing through the eyes and secured at its opposite ends to the fixed leg and back.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

VILHELMINE ,SEMLER NVitnesses:

W. B. Monrnv, I

A. SCHLESSING.

When seat a is va- IOO 

